Merz meets Trump: expectations and challenges in Washington!

Merz meets Trump: expectations and challenges in Washington!

Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) has started his inaugural visit to the USA with a decisive meeting in the White House today. Merz met US President Donald Trump to discuss important topics such as the Ukraine conflict and transatlantic relationships. This is the first personal meeting between Merz and Trump since Merz ’took office on May 6, 2025.

Merz, who traveled to Washington on Wednesday evening, came directly from a dinner with the Prime Minister of the States in Berlin. A conversation with Trump, a lunch together and a press base are planned. In the past few weeks, Merz and Trump had already phoned several times and exchanged SMS to prepare for the meeting. Topics such as the NATO reaction on external threats and the customs dispute between the USA and the EU are an integral part of the agenda, report .

A central theme of the conversation will be the development of the Ukraine war. Trump recently emphasized that crucial knowledge about the will of Russia could be there for negotiations in the next two weeks. Merz plans to increase the pressure on the Russian President Vladimir Putin to force an ceasefire. The Europeans are also preparing another sanction package against Russia. According to sueddeutsche.de after a phone call with Putin, no immediate peace in Ukraine was to be expected and that Putin was to be expected doubts about peace talks.

In addition, Trump announced new entry bans for nationals from twelve countries, which causes concern in the international community. This measure should come into force from Monday and affects Afghanistan, Myanmar and Iran.

transatlantic relationships

The friendship between Germany and the USA is based on a long history of common values, experiences and interests. According to the Foreign Office , the transatlantic coordination is of crucial importance for peace and security in Europe, in particular in the context of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. Germany is not only one of the most important trading partners in the United States, but also a central place for the stationed US soldiers in Europe, of which around 35,200 are permanently present in Germany.